On Tuesday (6th August), the Central government addressed Parliament on the number of cases under the UAPA and PMLA. The statistics highlighted a significant gap between registered cases and convictions over the past decade.
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NEW DELHI: The Central government addressed several pertinent questions in Parliament on Tuesday(6th August), focusing on the number of cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The statistics revealed a significant disparity between the number of cases registered and those that have resulted in convictions over the past decade.
Low Conviction Rates Under PMLA
The data presented in Parliament indicated that out of the 5,297 cases registered under the PMLA in the last ten years, only 40 cases resulted in conviction. This low conviction rate highlights challenges within the legal process and has raised questions about the efficacy of the Act in securing convictions.
Disparity in UAPA Convictions and Acquittals
A similar trend was observed in the cases registered under the UAPA. Over the past decade, the number of acquittals under the UAPA has been more than twice the number of convictions. This significant gap underscores potential issues in either the prosecution or the legal framework itself.
Parliamentary Inquiry into UAPA and PMLA Cases
Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi sought detailed information from the Home Ministry regarding the cases registered, acquittals, and convictions under the UAPA and PMLA since 2014. The Ministry responded with comprehensive data, revealing that since 2014, there have been 8,719 case registrations under the UAPA. Of these, 222 resulted in convictions, while 567 ended in acquittals.
In terms of PMLA cases during the same period, there were 5,297 case registrations, with only 40 convictions and 3 acquittals. The stark contrast in these figures points to the complexities and difficulties in prosecuting and securing convictions in such cases.
PMLA Cases Involving Politicians
In another question, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh inquired about the Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) under PMLA involving legislators and other politicians since 2019. The Finance Ministry disclosed that 132 cases were registered against politicians under the PMLA since 2019. Of these, only five trials have been completed, resulting in a single conviction.
NCLT and NCLAT Case Pendency
Rajya Sabha MP Amarendra Dhari Singh sought information on the case pendency in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). The Ministry of Corporate Affairs provided detailed statistics showing significant backlogs.
As of June 30, 2024, there were 19,770 cases pending before the NCLT. Out of these, 9,645 cases have been pending for less than a year, while 10,125 cases have been pending for more than a year. The situation at the NCLAT was also concerning, with 3,019 cases pending as of the same date. Of these, 1,654 cases have been pending for less than a year, and 1,365 cases have been pending for more than a year.
Among the 1,365 cases pending for over a year at NCLAT, 783 have been pending for more than two years, and 456 have been pending for more than three years. These numbers reflect a significant backlog and potential delays in the adjudication process.
